The resurgence of John O’Shea as a training force continues as he has added another potential top liner to his spring assault in Zoukerino, who overcame difficulties to win the Listed Rosebud Stakes (1100m, 3yo) at Rosehill, on Saturday.
Zoukerino was held up for a run until the 200 metres mark when his jockey Brenton Avdulla pushed him through a narrow gap to defeat Spacewalk by a short head.
Zoukerino has won both of his starts and O’Shea was pleased the son of Snitzel had achieved a black type win so early in his career.
Although The Rosebud is seen as a traditional starting off point for top three-year-olds O’Shea said he would give him an easy time before mapping out a plan for him.
A stallion making race such as The Coolmore Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day would be a strong possibility as the race, O’Shea will set him for.
After the race speaking on Sky Racing, O’Shea was buoyant about the nature of the win.
“That’s a very very good performance to do that at his second start to overcome adversity against company,” O’Shea said.
“We are really excited by him.”
The other highlight of the meeting was the first-up win by former English stayer Surefire who finished strongly to win the Spring Preview over 1400 metres.
His trainer Chris Waller was taken by the win and said “he’s a pretty good horse.”
Waller said he was prepared to step the son of Fastnet Rock up in class and run him in the Chemsford Stakes (1600 metres) at Randwick on September 3 as his next start.
Waller is aiming Surefire at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
The talking point of the meeting was the defeat of Frumos who was held up for a run for the entire straight when she finished seventh.
Stewards grilled her jockey Hugh Bowman about his ride and excepted his explanation as to why he couldn’t ever get a run on her.
HORSES TO FOLLOW
SUREFIRE
Chris Waller has this powerful former English galloper primed for a huge spring judging by his fast-finishing effort to win first-up. He’s going to be a great Cups contender.
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MONFELICITY
Promising staying mare who finished an unlucky fourth behind Raging Bull over 1800 metres. Racing NSW stewards noted that Monfelicity was held up for a run in the early part of the straight and was also disappointed for a run at the 100 metres mark. Her jockey Tom Sherry said he also could not ride her out over the concluding stages as she was awkwardly placed on the heels of Raging Bull.
KIBOU
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s son of Maurice had little luck in the closing stages of The Rosebud where five horses raced tightly. Racing NSW stewards noted that he was bumped by Zoukerino and then became unbalanced. He was also checked with 50 metres to go when crowded by Zoukerino on his outside and Spacewalk on his inside.
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